The U.S. Department of the Interior has approved a mining plan change for the Black Butte mine in Sweetwater County, Wyo. The change allows the Black Butte Coal Co. to recover about 9.2 million tons of federal coal in two new areas, known as Pit 15 and Pit 10.
“The Black Butte mine expansion strengthens our nation’s Energy Dominance by responsibly unlocking federal coal resources,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. “This decision also supports good-paying jobs in Wyoming and ensures the land is restored after mining, reflecting our commitment to both energy and environmental stewardship.”
Black Butte has been in operation since 1977. With this approval, the mine is expected to continue operating through at least 2039. The expansion is expected to create over 50 new jobs.
The expansion approval supports key Trump administration energy priorities under Executive Order 14154, “Unleashing American Energy,” and Executive Order 14241, “Reinvigorating America’s Beautiful Clean Coal Industry.” These executive orders advance domestic energy production while maintaining responsible land management.
Source: Department of the Interior